The Matchup
For the second straight year and the third time in the last five years the UBC Thunderbirds face the Saskatchewan Huskies in a best-of-three Canada West semifinal starting Friday, February 23 at Saskatoon's Rutherford Rink.
Advancing past the quarter-finals for the sixth consecutive year, the Thunderbirds hit the road for a playoff series for the first time since the 2013-14 conference semifinal where the Huskies beat UBC in three games en route to capturing the Canada West title.
The 'Birds are looking for an historic third straight conference championship but will have their hands full against a Huskies team with seven wins in their last eight games. Saskatchewan also finished the regular season with a Canada West leading defence with just 31 goals against.
The Huskies finished just two points ahead of the T-Birds in the standings but managed to sweep UBC in their regular season series. The 'Birds picked up a single point in their last meeting with Saskatchewan four weeks ago courtesy of a 2-1 shootout loss.
Game one is set for Friday, February 23 with game two on Saturday, February 24. If necessary, game three is scheduled for Sunday, February 25. Puck drop for each is 11:30 a.m. PT.
Last Action
The T-Birds needed overtime both Friday and Saturday but managed to sweep the Mount Royal Cougars. Game one went to triple overtime before
Kathleen Cahoon scored the game winner in the third longest game in Canada West women's hockey history.
Celine Tardif scored six minutes into overtime to clinch the series in game two.
Saskatchewan earned a bye through the quarter-finals thanks in part to a weekend sweep over Mount Royal in the final weekend of the regular season.
By the Numbers
4 – This series features the winners of four of the last five Canada West championships. The Thunderbirds are looking for a third straight and fourth in the last six seasons while the Huskies won their only conference banner in the 2013-14 season.
5 – The 'Birds have won five straight Canada West playoff series dating back to the 2015-16 season. Last weekend's win over Mount Royal was the T-Birds' first series sweep since a 2014 quarter-final victory over Calgary.
Players to Watch
Kathleen Cahoon (#74, F) – The fifth-year forward ended the longest game in program history scoring the game winner in Friday night's triple overtime win over Mount Royal. Cahoon also earned an assist on
Brielle Bellerive's first period goal.
Tory Micklash (#31, G) – The second-year goaltender allowed just one goal against on 25 shots in her Canada West playoff debut in the game one marathon Friday night for a 0.52 goals against average. Including the regular season, Micklash has allowed just 22 goals in 17 games.
Coach's Take
With a far more inexperienced, younger group than has been the case the past couple seasons, UBC head coach
Graham Thomas says his team learned a lot in last weekend's quarter-final against Mount Royal, and they'll be better for it.
"I thought we got better and better as the weekend went on and I think that's a really good sign," said Thomas who enters his 12
th playoff series with the 'Birds. "Our group is pulling in the same direction, we're believing in each other, we're playing confident. We just need to be loose, play hard, and just go after it and enjoy the opportunity that we have in front of us."
Friday night will mark the 12
th game the T-Birds will have played against the Huskies in the last two seasons, regular season and playoffs combined, so there isn't much by way of surprises.
"They're really fast and well structured with great goaltending," Thomas said. "They have some great high end skill and play a disciplined game. They're going to come at us and pressure us so we have to know that and have a plan for it and just trust in our game and play our game as well."
